Releasing device for shoe racks or conveyers.



r. s. WILLIAMS BELEASING DEVICE FOR SHOE BACKS 0B OQNVBYERS. APPLIOATIQN FILED- APR. 8, 1910.

1,018,286 Pati lted Feb. 20, 1912.

UNITED sT TEsrATENT' OFFICES FRANKLIN S. WILLIAMS, BRIDGEVTA'IER, MASSACHUSETTS.

RELEASING DEVICE FOR SHOE RACKS OR CONVEYEIRS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN S. WIL- Lnnrs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgewater, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have in-' vented certain new and useful Improvements in Releasing Devices for Shoe Racks or Conveyors, of which the'following is a specification. Q

My invention relates to an improvement in releasing devices for shoeracks or conveyers, and the present invention is an improvement on the invention set forth in application, Serial No. 536,271, filed Jan. 4, 1910.

The object of my present invention is to provide a simple means for simultaneously releasing both ends of the trays so that they may be adjusted into a folded position.

With these objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the lower portion of my rack, s lowing my improved releasing device attached thereto, F 1g. 2 is an enlarged detail of parts of the releasing device, Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of one of the casters showing the manner in which the notch engages therewith, and, Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the connection between the draw-rod and the catch.

The frame of the rack comprises two posts or standards 1, 1, and the cross-bar 2. The several'racks or trays 3, 3, are pivotally mounted between the posts at their centers, and at each end of the racks or trays, the, rods .4, 4, are pivotally connected; and the lower ends of these rods are constructed in the form of catches 5, 5, the ends of which are beveled as at 6, 6, whereby to ride upon the In s 7 7 until their notches 8, 8, are reachefi, when the catches spring forward to receive the lug intothe notches, thereby locking the racks or trays in a horizontal position. My present invention comprises Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented Feb, 20, 1912, Application filed April 8, 1910. Serial No. 554,242,

a releasing device for simultaneously disengaging these spring catches, and comprises a foot-lever 9 pivotally supported at or near its center 10, at a point at or near the center of the cross-bar 2. Connecting rods 11, 11,

extend from opposite sides of the fulcrum,

of this foot lever in opposite direct-ions to bell-crank levers 12,12, ivoted at 13, 13,,at or near the opposite ends of the cross-bar, and from the opposite upturned ends 14, 14, of these bell-crank levers, rods 15,15, extend to the two catches so when it is desired to release the racks or trays, it is merely necessary to force the foot-lever in the direction of the arrow, the effect of which is to simultaneously withdraw the two catches and release them from the lugs, so that the trays or racks may be swung downwardly to their folded position. In this way, a simple and effective means is rovided for releasing both ends at one an the same time, thus facilitating the operation of the rack or conveyer, while at the same time employing a simple mechanism for accomplishing the purpose.

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangement of the several parts described without departure from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction herein set forth,

Havin fully described my invention, what I c aim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination with a base, standards, trays or racks pivotally supported by the-standards, and rods pivotally connected with the trays and terminating at their lower ends in spring-catches, of levers pivotally connected to the base of the rack or conveyer, said levers connected to one another,

and to thecatches whereby the latter may be simultaneously released when the levers are swung in one direction.

2. In a shoe rack or conveyer, the combination with a base, standards or posts, racks or trays pivotally connected between the postsor standards, rods pivotally connected two cetchesare. simultaneously operated to to the racks, and terminating in springrelease the trays or racks. 10 catches, of releasing mechanism comprising In testimony whereof I aflix my signature,

two bell-crank levers and an intermediate in the presence of two witnesses.

.5 footdever, .rocls extending between said le- FRANKLIN S, WILLIAMS.

. vers from opposite sides ofthe fulcrum of Witnesses: the foot-lew'er, and rods extending from the GEORGE W 'FOLSOM, J12,

. bellcrank levers to the catches, whereby the WALTER D. PACKARD. 

